Searching for "intertidal"

Nestled in my last post was a note on new EU VAT laws and how they affect my pattern selling modes. Way back then (LOL 4 days ago), I wrote that Plainstitch patterns would be available through LoveKnitting. They still are, and I still think LoveKnitting is great for offering the Ravelry community a way out of a tight spot. But I am finding LK to have a significant publishing time lag for new patterns (read: my new darling Intertidal). The inconvenience this has caused to EU knitters is not cool. So, I’ve changed my plans and my Ravelry shop settings.

For EU members, the Ravelry pattern page will now show a “buy now” link to the pattern at my shiny new payhip store. Payhip calculates/collects EU VAT, accepts paypal, and does not require you to register with their site. All these seem like very good things.

It may be I’m biased because its new, but I rather like my payhip store. It is simple and uncluttered and I hope that it will be an okay solution, perhaps even a long term one, to this whole VATmess.

Of course, knitters from anywhere in the world may always email me to discuss a person-to-person transaction. There’s something kind of cozy about the old way of doing things, anyway. :-)

Of or denoting the area of a seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. That is what intertidal means, according to my dictionary widget.

According to my brain widget, as I mentioned before, it also means tides and the moon and how things are pulled off center in the most perfect (sometimes imperfect #vatmess) way. Also tiny mollusks that send suckers up through wet sand, crabs that scurry back and forth to avoid jostling waves, seaweed, horseshoe crabs, stranded jellyfish, and those sorts of things. Always in a transitory phase. Or if you prefer, just a cute pullover…

…With, if I may say, a clever construction. Knit flat in two pieces but with the easiest two seams ever in the history of seaming. I sewed both seams while watching TV. During a single episode, I believe, of The Comeback, which is a brilliant show and you should watch it immediately. If you haven’t already, which you probably have, because you are smart and have your finger on the pulse.

Anyway, the pattern is published and can be viewed or purchased through Ravelry here.

A couple more things to share –

I updated the Bogolan pattern. I also increased the price, for two reasons. One, with the flat per-purchase fee taken by Paypal, the previous price was low enough that the total donation per pattern was getting disproportionately gouged. Two, I made the pattern better – more clearly presented, better and more specific instructions, nicer to look at, with improved formatting and photos – which I believe makes it worth a little more. I’ve learned a ton about writing patterns since I originally published Bogolan over a year ago. I wanted to put what I’ve learned back into the pattern to increase the quality, improve knitter experience, and generate (hopefully) further donations for Women for Women. All proceeds from Bogolan will be donated through (at least) the end of 2015.

Next up, VATmess. Feel free to skip to TLDR because this is about to get kind of opinion-y.

Brian: “These things are so stupid.” Angela: “I know. No one ever has a good time.”

For those of you lucky enough not to have heard about this, the EU modified their VAT (tax) laws at the turn of the new year. Whether through negligence or intent, they have made legitimacy much more complicated, and in many cases unviable, for anybody, no matter how small-scale, who buys or sells digital goods (including knitting patterns) across international borders.

So. While I am apprehensive about the implications of the new VAT law regarding internet privacy, and while I believe that current VAT imposes a disproportionate burden on smaller businesses (which cannot afford tax lawyers and accountants), and therefore effectively constitutes a tax on “the poor” (“the little guy”, “micro-business,” or what-have-you), and further strengthens the global monopolies of large corporations, and should therefore be lobbied against to the fullest extent (petition the white house to respond here)–I have adjusted my own selling modes to comply with the new laws.

Ravelry and LoveKnitting, which is a UK-based online store, have done an outstanding (srsly) job of helping Ravelry-based designers comply, better than anyone could have expected. However, the situation is far from ideal. It will cost EU buyers more time and money. It will also cost me more money, in addition to lost sales, because LoveKnitting charges administrative fees which, in part, go toward their ability to deal with the complex VAT regulations. I assume they have lawyers and accountants on the job.

TLDR – Knitters in the EU will, for the time being, be redirected from Ravelry to LoveKnitting to complete purchases of my patterns with VAT-inclusive prices.

A. and I have a holiday tradition of watching our way through all 19 episodes of My So-Called Life while he is on break. This year’s favorite character was Patty, played by Bess Armstrong, but that’s beside the point. Here’s Ricky and Delia dancing at the World Happiness Dance.

Hey, who knew “What is Love” by Haddaway was about international tax law? har har.

I am in love with her and of course I wish to share her with the entire world! So with the help of a cadre of angels also known as my beloved testers, I am preparing a pattern. And the pattern’s name is Intertidal.

This design is about tides and the moon and how things are pulled off center in the most perfect way. It is about being in the middle of all the crazy cosmic influences. It is, like Chelsea Morning, designed to showcase an interesting color pairing.

In case I have not said it enough, I adore Isager Spinni. Spinni is like my yarn BFF, all rough and scratchy but at the same time lofty and warm and cozy and oh the colors. You’d think I was being paid, the way I rave about Spinni, but no, I give Spinni my love for free.

I was thinking the other day, Why do I like to design with color blocks? I believe it has to do with how I shop for yarn. I don’t appreciate most colors alone. They just don’t grab me that way. I only like blacks and greys alone. Colors, for me, need other colors to play with. Contrasts in temperature and brightness and saturation and hue get me thinking and feeling and wanting to experiment. And that leads to impulse yarn purchases. Oh, yes.